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Portsmouth, New Hampshire—(Editor’s note: Mogel DeStefano Architects Constantly looking for new ways to incorporate our clients’ needs and desires into their homes: from outdoor living spaces to sustainable design and everything in between.Here are questions and answers about the latest residential design trends Mark Pelletier Maugel DeStefano Architects, AIA, Principal Britney Rotunda AIA, residential studio principal. )
Boston Real Estate Times: What trends has Maugel DeStefano Architects seen in residential design recently?
Britney Rotunda: The past few years have changed the way we live at home. Before the pandemic, home offices, outdoor oases, and expandable living were not something our clients were often asking for. But the pandemic has changed the way we function and think at home, and now these items are even more important to many people. In addition to the pandemic, we are seeing climate change having a large impact on our coastlines, so there is an increasing demand for homes with sustainable elements and/or elements that help prevent coastal flooding.
BRET: How is the quality of life and living facilities in the new house?
Mark Pelletier: A lot of this depends on listening to and understanding what your customers have to say. When someone hires an architect who specializes in custom homes, it’s because they want a home that reflects who they are, their needs, and their lifestyle. For one client, this might mean creating an indoor-outdoor entertaining space with a kitchen, while for others planning to age in place, it might mean designing a closet that stacks on all floors to for a future elevator, while for other clients this might mean designing a wardrobe that stacks on all floors for a future elevator. That could mean integrating smart home technology.
BRET: What is “smart home technology”?
Congressman: We’re seeing some amazing advances in smart home dynamics
technology. For example, AutoTone has emerged as a seamless blend of:
Functionality and aesthetic appeal.Imagine a world where your curtains retract gracefully
Entering into a discreet wall cavity that blends seamlessly into the architectural design
Simple voice commands.To achieve this level of complexity, one must
Consider these automation solutions early in the design process because as a designer,
We need to figure out how to hide these elements within the wall before the siding
and install the veneer.By integrating these creative solutions from the start, homeowners can enjoy not only the convenience of smart living, but also the space
Cutting-edge technology becomes an integral part of the overall design, but virtually disappears.
BRET: Do you have many clients requesting outdoor living spaces in our cold New England area? winter?
Congressman: Yes.In New England, most people wonder why they lived here for eight months
We cherish the warmer months of the year. We realize that the quality of time spent in a home’s outdoor space is just as important, if not more important, than the time spent outdoors.
Time spent inside. We continually design attractive exterior spaces,
We like to call it our “outdoor oasis.”These are not just spaces for people to walk down a group
Back stairs to the terrace, these spaces flow from the interior of the house through the wide open spaces
Door system to the exterior.At our lakefront hotels, this often includes transition
Spaces, such as screened porches or four-season rooms with operable walls, can be transformed
Enter the outdoor space.
Once outside, there’s a whole outdoor environment: it could be a patio with a fireplace,
Outdoor kitchen, or pool with poolside cabana – the possibilities are endless.
BRET: Can you describe in more detail what your Four Seasons room looks like?
BR: These are beautiful, multi-functional spaces with a wide range of amenities.they can
There are fireplaces, seating areas, bars, game spaces and more.New England is like that
Impacts indoor/outdoor living spaces. These spaces were really fun for us to design!
Lately we’ve been pushing the envelope and designing completely wall-to-wall rooms
Disappearing into the interior and exterior of the home, you have unobstructed views of the house and water as you stand inside.
BRET: What about interior spaces like bathrooms?
Congressman: Historically, bathrooms were not as grand as what we see today.they are
Secondary, even utilitarian.Even if you design these big houses, they are
A secondary part of a living space.Our customers now demand glamor and luxury
A spa space to which they can escape.This is where they want to start their day and this is where they want to be
Go relax at the end of the day.
Lately we’ve been designing bathroom elements like heated shower walls, so
Run into them and take a shower with aromatherapy steam, which is not cold either.We always consider small details such as niches or ledges in the shower so that when
When a woman shaves her legs, she does not have to balance on one leg.
BRET: How have families changed as a result of the pandemic?
BR: The pandemic has changed how people think about their homes.people have to spend so much
Spending more time at home than ever before is really making them think about their lives
Lack of housing.Office space was and still is the number one requirement
thing. Just like the new flexible work environment, spaces can be flexible.this is OK
Meaning we are designing a corner where guests can set up and work for the day, or,
For a homeowner, it might be a fully furnished office with a TV, whiteboard, and more.
The nook concept permeates other areas of the home as well.For example, suppose you have a
A home designed to expand to accommodate your extended family. It’s great when there are many people around, but what about when there are only two people at home? When there were only two people, we started designing more comfortable spaces, as well as small spaces for guests to rest.
BRET: You mentioned that you’re seeing more and more clients requesting sustainable design elements. Can you elaborate on that?
BR: Today, there are many different programs, certifications, or terms available for achieving higher performance homes. Not all of our clients know exactly what they want or desire to achieve something like net zero certification, but they do know they want to move towards a more sustainable home. Our job is to educate clients on the pros and cons of different ways to achieve this goal, and to do so in an environmentally responsible manner.
BRET: How has sustainable design in residential buildings evolved over the years?
BR: When I first entered the field of residential construction, the common thought was
You can only have a 1,200-square-foot house with maybe a few windows,
And it will look ugly. This is no longer the case. We recently designed a net-zero home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It has a modern, fresh design and is more than just 1,200 square feet. We were able to design a very beautiful house with lots of facilities and a very modern, comfortable feel and still achieve the high performance that both ourselves and the client required.
Beyond household energy consumption, we also begin to think about our lives
The carbon footprint, not only applies to the homes we design, but also to a company.
BRET: How is climate change affecting the design of coastal homes?
BR: Largely.Two recent storms off our coast have affected
Waterfronts, streets and coastal buildings.Incidents such as this are forcing
We incorporate elements into our designs to help protect our clients’ homes when these
event occurs.The storm caused serious damage to some buildings as
The rock walls above the water were loose and many places were damaged by flooding.
Fragments of wall. This has implications for current zoning requirements,
FEMA laws and constructability within flood zones.
BRET: What experience does Maugel DeStefano Architects have designing coastal homes?
Congressman: Maugel DeStefano Architects has designed more than 30 coastal residences
Year. During this time we have also developed excellent relationships with consultants in the following areas:
area. This is extremely important when dealing with challenging sites (i.e. homes located in flood plains, historic neighborhoods, steep slopes, etc.) and can save our clients a significant amount of time and money, not only in terms of design, but also in permitting and construction .
We currently have a home under construction off Ocean Avenue in Rye, NH and we would be happy to visit the site and see how it and the home are doing.Of course, this is
That’s true by design, but it’s always nice to see hours of hard work put into action.
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